FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
July 15, 2025
CONTACT:
Graciela González
Director of Communications
ggonzalez@latinopolicyforum.org
312-728-4291
Latino Policy Forum: Eliminating Department of Education Will Harm Illinois Students
“Our young people are our most promising hope for the future and this administration, along with the majority of the Supreme Court, has turned their back on them.”
CHICAGO — On Monday, July 14, the United States Supreme Court issued a ruling that allows the Trump administration to fire more than 1,400 employees from the Department of Education, effectively dismantling the agency. It is believed that the layoffs will include nearly the entire staff of the Office for English Language Acquisition which is responsible for managing funding for programs that support more than 5 million students learning English annually. There are more than 330,000 English Learner students in Illinois that could be impacted. Yesterday’s decision may also further embolden the Trump administration to abuse its power by unilaterally making policy decisions without involving Congress, as required by law.
“The danger in gutting the Department of Education, is that along with these terminations, the Trump administration is attempting to skirt its legal obligation to ensure all students have equal access to a quality education,” said Linda X. Tortolero, president and CEO of the Latino Policy Forum. “This will impact our English Learner students, most of whom are U.S. citizens as well as students of color, students who are low-income, who are living with a disability, and many others who will no longer have the federal government in their corner to protect them. Our young people are our most promising hope for the future and this administration, along with the majority of the Supreme Court, has turned their back on them.”
The Department of Education is also responsible for managing federal student loans that make higher education affordable for many students, tracking student achievement that helps identify and address needs and inform education policy, and for enforcing civil rights laws that protect students’ equal access rights to a quality education.
The decision comes soon after the announcement that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will now require proof of legal immigration status to access programs critical for the health and wellbeing of families and children, including early childhood programs such as Head Start. This will effectively bar certain qualified immigrants or families and children who are undocumented from accessing these programs. Additionally, this month, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) froze more than $6.9 billion in already promised education funding, including support for bilingual education, afterschool programs, teacher training, and other essential supports for students.
“The Latino Policy Forum will continue advocating for policies that protect and uplift all students, regardless of immigration status, race, income level, or background,” added Tortolero. “But we are also looking to our national and state elected leaders to step up their efforts to put a stop to these attacks. We deserve leaders that fight as fiercely as we do for our communities, especially our children and the most vulnerable among us.”
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About the Latino Policy Forum
The Latino Policy Forum is the only organization in the Chicago area that facilitates the involvement of Latinos at all levels of public decision-making. The Forum conducts analysis to inform, influence and lead. Its goals are to improve education outcomes, advocate for affordable housing, promote just immigration policies, and engage diverse sectors of the community, with an understanding that advancing Latinos advances a shared future. For more information, visit www.latinopolicyforum.org.